Surfrider Youth Campaign Bloghttp://www.surfrider.org/quad
{weblog_language}Copyright 20142014-10-02T10:00:00+00:00Raptober is Here!http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/raptober-is-here
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/raptober-is-hereToday, the Surfrider Foundation launched its fourth annual Rise Above Plastics Month in support of its Rise Above Plastics program. During this month long campaign the organization is calling on the public to learn the facts, pledge to reduce their plastic footprint, join a beach cleanup, help raise funds and enter Surfrider’s Plastic Art Contest.

Change begins onshore, from eliminating the proliferation of single-use plastics to cleaning up our beaches before this litter hits our waterways. Here are six ways people everywhere can reduce their plastic footprint to help protect our oceans, waves and beaches:

Avoid buying items packaged in plastic. Look for produce and other items that aren’t over-packaged. Not only are you reducing the plastic you use, you’re sending a message to the manufacturers of those products that you prefer sustainable packaging.

Use cloth shopping bags. Keep reusable bags somewhere handy—in your car or your bike or by the front door—so you don’t forget them when you go to the market, grocery store or mall.

Forget bottled water. Carry a reusable bottle. Plastic bottles are one of the top five most common types of litter found on beaches. Since bottled water is much more expensive than tap water, you’ll also save money and avoid the possible hazards of plastic toxins leaching into your beverage.

Volunteer at a beach cleanup. Plastics are forever. Help pick up plastic debris that have already reached our coasts to make certain they are recycled and not mistaken for food by birds and marine life. Surfrider Foundation Chapters will be holding events all month long. Collect trash, then enter our Rise Above Plastics art contest for a chance to win some amazing prizes.

Take Surfrider’s Pledge to Rise Above Plastics. Learn more ways to make simple changes to your daily routines by taking this Surfrider pledge. Then spread the news and share it with your friends.

Make a donation. Every drop counts. Your support is crucial in ensuring the continued success of Surfrider’s campaign and programmatic work, including more than 25 Rise Above Plastics campaigns taking place across the country today.

The Rise Above Plastics program is the Surfrider Foundation’s response to the problem of plastic litter in our ocean and marine environments. The goal of the program is to educate the public on the impacts single-use plastics have on marine environments, and how individuals can make changes in their daily lives and within their communities. The program has a track record of success. Just last month, Surfrider celebrated the first-ever statewide single-use plastic bag ban in California. Surfrider Chapters also have seen victories in Hawaii, Texas, Washington, D.C., and are working vigorously to help pass a bag ban bill in New York City.

Surfrider Foundation Chapters are currently working on 27 Rise Above Plastics campaigns around the country, with a total of 76 victories since 2006.

]]>2014-10-02T10:00:00+00:00Students Create “Litter Bug” PSA Videohttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/students-create-litter-bug-psa-video
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/students-create-litter-bug-psa-video]]>2014-05-12T20:15:31+00:00Youth Take to the River to Solve Problemshttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/youth-take-to-the-river-to-solve-problems
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/youth-take-to-the-river-to-solve-problems
The Treasure Coast’s youngest scientists pondered mushroom filters and bacteria while they researched ways to solve the Indian River Lagoon’s pollution problems.

For weeks and even months, students from Sebastian to Stuart scooped up jars and bottles of water along the lagoon. They tested for phosphorous, salinity and pollution, and tried to make their best guesses on ways to stop the problems they found. The projects earned top honors at their regional science fairs and now will compete with others at the state level.

The young scientists said they chose the lagoon as the subject of their projects because it is such a big part of the Treasure Coast and its economy. “It’s a really vital waterway,” said Stuart Middle Schooleighth-grader Caroline Nolan, 13. Nolan’s project explored whether a filter made of mushrooms could be created to remove nutrients from wastewater discharging into the lagoon.

“This is a big area for tourists,” said Sebastian River Middle School sixth-grader Gus Brugger IV, whose father is a charter fisherman. Gus, 12, wanted to find out the cause of the nutrient pollution in the water. He remembered the massive fish kill a few years ago in Sebastian and wanted to find the source so maybe the fish would return to the waterways. He also wanted to find out what killed the sea grasses.

“I think we should help the environment. You come out here to live closer to nature, not hurt it. Why would you not want to do something about it?” Gus said.

Gus tested the water in Sebastian in many different areas, setting up a filtering system to determine which water sample was the most polluted. He found the heaviest pollution came from waters in the residential canal north of the Wabasso Bridge, where many homes still use older septic tanks. His conclusion: Residents should connect to the sewer system if they can.

“We just have to stop pollution. We should do everything we can to help the community,” Gus said.

Caroline’s family often spent weekends boating in the lagoon.

“But because of the toxic algae, we weren’t able to do that,” she said.

Sebastian Charter Junior High School eighth-grader Alexi Dong, 13, looked at the salinity levels of the water in the lagoon and nearby canals to see whether they affected the death rate of tiny aquatic creatures. While her tests concluded salinity had no effect, she noticed the dumping of freshwater into brackish, a combination of freshwater and saltwater, water caused an imbalance.

“This can cause a shock to animals used to living with salt in the water,” Alexi said.

Animals such as manatees and fish could die because of the salinity content, she said. Her solution is to set up stations to periodically add salt to the water.

St. Joseph Catholic School seventh-grader Osiris Ramos of Stuart also tested salinity levels in the lagoon and St. Lucie River to see whether it affected certain types of jellyfish. He found more jellyfish lived in areas where there were lower levels of salinity. Osiris said he started noticing the jellyfish in areas where he went swimming.

Students said they knew about the condition of the lagoon before they began their projects, but the level of awareness increased as their research continued.

“It is in a huge crisis because things are dying,” Alexi said. “We need to find a solution soon.”

The students said they most likely will continue with their research for next year’s science fair. Some plan to continue with testing even though they have finished with the project.

“I want to see what is going on for my own personal view,” said St. Edward’s School eighth-grader Stephen Kaiser, 12. He tested bacteria levels in the estuary in Stuart and Fort Pierce and the impact they had on certain types of sponges. “It is such a problem.”

]]>2014-03-12T20:36:56+00:00Youth Driven Cinema Brings out Youthhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/youth-driven-cinema-brings-out-youth
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/youth-driven-cinema-brings-out-youth
On Feburary 28, 2014 the first annual Youth Driven Cinema Film Festival was held at the Lyric Theater in downtown Stuart. The event was well attended with community members, elected officials and students of all ages from around the county. The videos ranged in topics from documenting the discharges and their impact on the river/nearshore reefs, lobomycosis in resident Atlantic bottlenose dolphin populations, apex predators, as well as marine debris and the importance/effect of picking up trash on the beach.The top three films from each category were shown during the film festival.

For the High School Category: 1. "The Ripple Effect" E. trense, 2. "Indian River Lagoon Water Pollution" J lockett, and 3. "Indian River Segment " J.Barco; H.Weis; P.Saccavino.

Prizes for first place, all divisions, were GoPro Hero 3+ cameras. Second place prize for the elementary division was a week at camp at the Environmental Studies Center. Second place prize for middle school and high school was a inshore fishing charter with local guide and writer Mike Connor. Third place prize for all contestants was a full day paddle boarding trip with Treasure Coast Paddle.

The premier was generously funded by the Surfrider Foundation Quad Program, Knopf family foundation, The Guardians of Martin County and the Community Service Advisory Board- City of Stuart. The event was able to raise $4000 for The Indian Riverkeeper program. This money will be used for continuing the K-12 education programs educating our area youth about the importance of the marine environment and their role in protecting this valuable asset.

]]>2014-01-14T13:16:19+00:00Membership Drive Club Winnershttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/membership-drive-club-winners
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/membership-drive-club-winners
During Fall Club Rush clubs were encouraged to participate in raising the bar in their club membership. We were pleased to announce the following winners: The first pic is of November '13 membership push winning QUAD club from Santa Margarita Catholic High School, President Ryan Dugan (2nd from R) with his team at a beach clean in Laguna Beach, CA. The second picture features October '13 winning QUAD club from Mater dei Catholic High School, with President Audrey Thellman (2nd from R). Each club won a number of materials that they can use for their future events and activities.]]>2014-01-02T01:30:54+00:00Hollister Teams up with Surfrider Foundationhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/hollister-teams-up-with-surfrider-foundation
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/hollister-teams-up-with-surfrider-foundation
SURFRIDER & HOLLISTER TEAM UP FOR TWITTER CAMPAIGN

Surfrider Foundation and Hollister are teaming up for a tweet-to-donate campaign to keep our beaches beautiful! Starting November 6, every time you tweet @Surfrider and include #GiveHollister, Hollister will donate $1 to Surfrider Foundation. Visit HollisterCo.com for more details]]>2013-11-11T01:11:40+00:00Bolsa Chica Jetty Raptober Clean Uphttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/bolsa-chica-jetty-raptober-clean-up
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/bolsa-chica-jetty-raptober-clean-up
A Large Beach Clean Up @ the Bolsa Chica Jetty was held in conjunction with "Rise Above Plastics" awareness month for October and Surfrider Foundation Global participation contest of "One foot at a Time". It was a fun learning process for the volunteers using parts of their trash on Halloween templates and learning about plastic pollution and its affects on our environment.

beach clean up results: 213 Volunteers picking up 271.14 lbs

Participating students that came included: 45 students from Bishop Amat HS; 12 students from Troy High School who are forming their High School Quad Program on-campus Surfrider Foundation Club; students from: St Barbara School, San Gabriel Mission HS, Whittier HS, Irvine Intermediate, El Rancho HS, Wilson HS, St. Margaret Mary School, El Modena Interact, Edison HS, Sunny Hills HS, Country Hills Elementary, La Habra HS, Cryst Cathedral, Nichols Academic Center, OCC and many of our regular dedicated beach clean up volunteers...]]>2013-10-22T15:57:56+00:00Celebrating Raptoberfest!!http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/celebrating-raptoberfest
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/celebrating-raptoberfest
Did you know that up to 80% of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources? It’s pretty clear we all need to take a good, hard look at our plastic use.

Everyone has a plastic footprint. But we can all make a few simple choices to cut unnecessary plastics from our daily routines and reduce how much plastic we use in our lifetime. In honor of Rise Above Plastics Month, here are 5 easy ways to reduce your plastic footprint:

1. Say no to single-use plastic water bottles. In nearly all cases, the water out of your tap is just as safe – if not safer – than the water sold in single-use plastic bottles. Instead, buy and use a reusable bottle and fill it with water.

2. Try a reusable travel mug each time you fill up for coffee or tea. Think of all the plastic lids (as well as the waxed paper cups) we’ll save!

3. Skip the pre-packaged single-serving portions. These types of products are the worst when it comes to excess packaging. Instead, buy in bulk and pop your goodies into reusable containers (it’s cheaper too!).

4. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)! Each year over one trillion plastic bags are used worldwide. Because these bags are so light and thin, they are easily carried by the wind out into our coastal environment. Instead of taking a plastic bag when you shop, use reusable bags.

5. Support Surfrider’s Rise Above Plastics Campaign! Renew your Surfrider membership today and we’ll send you 2 Halloween-themed Surfrider Foundation ChicoBag treat bags that are sure to please any trick-or-treater. You can use them throughout the year to get your groceries and other purchases home without the use of plastic bags.

When you renew your Surfrider membership during Rise Above Plastics Month, you can spread the word about the threat single-use plastics pose to our marine environments and inspire others to reduce their plastic footprint by making simple changes in their daily lives.

Student teams, working with a faculty advisor, can submit design briefs and a video describing a proposed green infrastructure project for their campus. This year, EPA is pleased to invite teams to compete in two categories: a Master Plan category and a Site Design category. Winning teams will earn a cash prize of $1,000 to $2,000.

If your club has an interest in pursuing this our Ocean Friendly Gardens Staffer Paul Herzog can assist!

Traditional GreenWorks grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded in support of environmental projects that demonstrate service-learning, exemplify student voice, involve at least one community partner, and can be completed within a year. To be eligible, projects must secure at least 50 percent in matching funds (in-kind acceptable).

GreenWork! grants for registered PLT GreenSchools of up to $3,000 support projects that meet all the parameters for traditional GreenWorks grant funding. To be eligible, applicants must be a school (public or private), be registered on the PLT GreenSchoo! Web site, have an established Green Team, have completed one or more of the PLT GreenSchools Investigations, and propose a project based on the findings of one or more of the PLT GreenSchools Investigations.

]]>2013-05-13T22:31:35+00:00Curry County Oregon Kids get Awardhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/curry-county-oregon-kids-get-award
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/curry-county-oregon-kids-get-award
“As Program Coordinator for the Curry County 4HProgram Michelle Carrillo is proud to announce that the 4H Surfrider Outdoor Stewardship
Program in Curry County is the 2013 award winner at the State level for the Denise Miller National 4-H Innovator Award.

This award recognizes the innovations of 4-H educators in honor of the timeless contributions of former

Council associate, Denise Miller. As the director of communication and marketing at National 4H Council, Denise Miller worked diligently to promote the fresh and innovative work of 4H. An innovator herself, Denise encouraged staff to tap their creative thinking to continually “make the best better” for all 4H programs. She gave tirelessly of her energy and expertise to 4H until her untimely death in 1991. As a memorial
tribute to Denise, her family and friends have created the Denise Miller National 4H Innovator Award to continue the work to which she was so
committed.

Michelle’s outlook is we don’t have to reinvent the wheel but we do need to think outside the boxand look at what resources we already have and how we can use them in a new way. By either bringing youth to the coast that have never had the opportunity or by starting up year around
clubs, the 4H Surfrider Outdoor Stewardship program has been an avenue for making change. The recognition for this program must be given to the volunteers who made it happen and had the courage to try. Dave Lacey, who is part of the Surfrider organization focusing on marine
stewardship and preservation, is the key person in all of this. Dave’s expertise and willingness to stick with the program and keep the kids motivated has made our program what it is today.

The program started with one summer surf camp that he ran, reaching 10 new youth. The next year we expanded the program to reach even
more youth in the County. Dave hosted four camps in 2011, 3 for local youth and one for Jackson County Youth. That year we were able to
reach over 60 new youth and the overwhelming response was that campers wanted a year around club.

]]>2013-05-13T20:21:40+00:00SF Board Member Interviewed by Kidsville!http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/sf-board-member-interviewed-by-kidsville
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/sf-board-member-interviewed-by-kidsville
Here is a great article our one of Surfrider's Foundation Board Members about what its like to be an environmentalist.

]]>2013-05-13T20:04:09+00:00Hawaii Student Highlighted in UH Newsletterhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/hawaii-student-highlighted-in-uh-newsletter
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/hawaii-student-highlighted-in-uh-newsletter
Check out this great article about UH Surfrider students are making an effort on their campus! http://www.kaleo.org/opinion/the-surfrider-foundation/article_64395240-a56e-11e2-b05a-001a4bcf6878.html]]>2013-04-16T16:25:38+00:00World Water Day is 3/22/13 - Here are some helpful tipshttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/world-water-day-3-22-13
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/world-water-day-3-22-13World Water Day Tips

1.
Check faucets and pipes for leaks – A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons per day.

2.
Use a broom to sweep your driveway and sidewalks – Hosing down your driveway and sidewalks is wasteful and can contribute to declines in downstream water quality. Use a broom and dustpan instead.

3.
Take shorter showers – One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.

4.
Check your toilets for leaks – Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.

5.
Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks – Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

6.
Put a brick in your tank – If you are still using a traditional non-low flow toilet, you can put one or two bricks in your tank. This will help displace some of the volume and reduce the amount of water used during each flush.

7.
Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth – Turning off the water while you brush your teeth helps to save over 150 gallons of water a month.

8.
Rinse your razor in the sink – Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste.

9.
Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads – Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation.

10.
Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge – Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful. Instead keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator.

11.
Water plants and landscaping in the morning or evening – Watering in the morning or evening reduces loss to evaporation.

13.
Avoid using the Permanent Press cycle on your washer – With clothes washers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 5 gallons for the extra rinse.

14.
Find a car wash! – Using a commercial car wash that recycles their water will save over 150 gallons each time you wash your vehicle and help reduce runoff.

15.
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily – Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet

]]>2013-03-13T19:54:08+00:00Tips to Start a School Recycling Programhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/tips-to-start-a-school-recycling-program
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/tips-to-start-a-school-recycling-program
Do you cringe whenever a classmate throws out a recyclable bottle, can, or paper? Help put a stop to this by starting a recycling program at your school. Here are the deets on how.

1. Get Dirty

Figure out how much your school wastes every day by collecting cans and bottles from students after lunch. This will provide tangible support when you’re approaching people with your idea.

2. Get Your Team Together

Get a team of students and teachers to help you with the program. Sell your idea to them by providing a list of stats and facts on recycling, along with the school facts you found. Check out Rise Above Plastics site for handouts and FAQs

3. Investigate

Once your principle approves the idea, start investigating! Search phone books for a company that can handle the recycling. Some towns even provide recycling bins and will collect recyclables on certain days. If your town doesn’t do this, then set up a fundraiser to buy recycling bins for every floor/area of your school.
Bin it

Once you are able to get recycling bins, get them in different colors or shapes, and separate them by paper, plastic, aluminum and trash. If you can’t do this, make labels that stand out.
Advertise

Post eye-catching signs around school to spread the word about your new recycling program. Make sure to include why it is so important to recycle and what can go in each bin.
Connect

Get others involved by starting an Surfrider Quad Club in your school. This is a great way to discuss environmental issues across the globe and how you guys can help.

Ideas

Hold a kick-off event at your school to spread awareness. Have games, food and recycling facts!
Convince your school to use the proceedings from recycling cans and bottles to buy recycling containers or fund field trips. (Hard work pays off.)

]]>2013-03-11T18:55:05+00:00Cal Poly Club Storm Drain Paintinghttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/cal-poly-club-storm-drain-painting
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/cal-poly-club-storm-drain-painting
On March 2nd, 2013, Cal Poly Surfrider Foundation teamed up with the San Luis Obispo Surfrider Foundation Charter for the painting of 26 storm drains in Grover Beach. Fourteen Cal Poly SF members worked with the Righetti surf club, a local high school surf club, to go about painting the storm drains that lead to the ocean. The City of Grover Beach provided paint and brushes while Brad Snooks, chairman of the SLO SF Charter, provided the stencils. The stencils said “No Dumping! Flows to Bay.” Local residents were enthusiastic and happy to see the project being implemented. Coverage was also had by the local news media, KSBY News. This is the Cal Poly SF Chaters first project as an official Surfrider Foundation college club.]]>2013-03-11T18:49:42+00:00UNCW Rise Above Plastics Presentationhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/uncw-rise-above-plastics-presentation
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/uncw-rise-above-plastics-presentation
Many of us have heard about the problems with plastic - polluting our oceans and beaches and harming our health with toxic chemicals. But what can one person do to be part of the solution?

Join author Beth Terry in UNCW’s Lumina Theater from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 11 for a special presentation sponsored by the UNCW Surfrider Foundation. Terry, author of "Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too," will be joined by local mom Danielle Richardet and UNCW staff member and plastic researcher Bonnie Monteleone. They’ll share practical tips about ways to reduce the amount of plastic in your home and on the planet.

This event is free and open to all. For more information, email DanielleLR55@aol.com or monteleoneb@uncw.edu.

]]>2013-03-06T17:02:17+00:00Santa Monica HS Students Rally Against Keystone Pipeline Effortshttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/santa-monica-hs-students-rally-against-keystone-pipeline-efforts
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/santa-monica-hs-students-rally-against-keystone-pipeline-efforts
Santa Monica HS students that work on BWTF with the WLA Chapter came out to the "Forward on Climate" rally in downtown LA as well as staff from the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) who organized the student coalition. Santa Monica High School's Team Marine and Marine Biology students joined over 1000 people in a march to City Hall to encourage President Obama to stop the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and move the United States away from polluting fossil fuels. The students got to meet actors Ed Begley, Jr. and Orlando Bloom as well as hear talks from Congressman Henry Waxman and NASA/JPL climate scientist, Josh Fischer, among many others.

]]>2013-02-21T18:22:46+00:00SEVENTEEN LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT ‘PRETTY AMAZING’ COVER STARhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/seventeen-launches-nationwide-search-for-the-next-pretty-amazing-cover-star
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/seventeen-launches-nationwide-search-for-the-next-pretty-amazing-cover-star
Seventeen magazine, the fashion and beauty authority for 13 million teen girls, today launches the third annual ‘Pretty Amazing’ contest. The magazine begins its search for the ultimate real girl to appear on the magazine’s October 2013 cover. Seventeen’s Pretty Amazing cover contest, presented by Neutrogena®, is open to all teen girls in America who are inspirational, creative, and talented and have an amazing story to tell.

Starting today, girls nationwide can enter the contest by sharing their story and submitting a photo at seventeen.com/prettyamazing. In the last two years, over 60,000 teens and young women have entered the contest and shared their remarkable stories.

Past finalists have included the youngest African-American female pilot to fly across country; a race-car driver with 100 wins under her belt; a gay-rights activist who created a national Spirit Day to honor LGBTQ teens; a 16-year old photographer who has already shot for international fashion magazines and major ad campaigns including Nike, and a documentary filmmaker who used film to pull herself out of ADD and depression.

For the finalists and winners, the contest can be life-changing. In 2012, the winner was 21-year-old Lindsay Brown, a champion soccer player at NCAA 1 Division Notre Dame who gave up her place on the team and a full scholarship to dedicate herself to her own non-profit, The SEGway project which teaches sports—and confidence—to girls in developing nations. Since her win, Lindsay used her newfound recognition to expand her non-profit, bringing her campaign to Kenya.

Pretty Amazing’s first winner in 2011, Zoe Damacela, grew up homeless, but used her entrepreneurial skills to create her own fashion business and propel herself and her family out of their low-income circumstances. Since her appearance on the cover of Seventeen, Zoe’s fashion business has been booming, she was invited to speak at the White House and is now filming a television pilot.

“This contest celebrates our readers for the amazing things they do every day,” says Ann Shoket, editor-in-chief of Seventeen. “These girls are forging their own paths, inspiring others, and making their dreams come true, they’re the ultimate cover stars.”

The Pretty Amazing winner will be selected by Shoket, along with pop superstar Carly Rae Jepsen.

Fresh water is a limited resource with several competing uses that pose an ever-increasing burden on water supplies. In California, water supply issues are magnified by the state’s growing population and semi-arid climate. In order to better prepare for current and future challenges regarding water supply, six students from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management are working to produce a “Water Action Plan”(WAP) for University of California, Santa Barbara, which will also serve as their Master’s Thesis.

The WAP seeks to build upon the school’s historic water practices that have allowed the university to surpass California’s 20 percent water-use reduction mandate nine years in advance. The plan will examine UCSB’s historical and current water use data on the following water types: potable, non-potable, wastewater, stormwater, industrial, reclaimed, and graywater. The WAP Group has also collaborated with regional and university stakeholders to identify and evaluate strategies for water reduction and explore education and outreach opportunities pertinent to on-campus water conservation. Upon completion, the WAP will be implemented under the university’s University of California Sustainable Practices Policy; the guidance document will enable UCSB to minimize water usage while meeting growing demands of future water users.

As the first of its kind in the UC system, the UCSB WAP will be designed with transferability in mind. It will offer site-specific water conservation strategies for UCSB and additionally, will serve as a comprehensive template for external water action plans. The WAP Group acknowledges the wide range of water needs and uses across the UC System. From agricultural to hospital water demand, each UC faces its own water challenges, but underlying the differences between universities is a common goal: water conservation. The UCSB WAP will lay out a systematic approach to designing a water action plan with the ultimate goal of maximizing water conservation; regardless of each university’s individual challenges, the UCSB WAP will emphasize key components and analytic processes necessary to developing a thorough and thoughtful water action plan. The graduate students working on the project hope to facilitate collaboration within and among universities to encourage creativity and information sharing that will maximize water conservation efforts across the board.

Currently, the WAP Group is in the process of writing the plan. The WAP Group will be producing a document for their Bren School Master’s Thesis and a guidance document for UCSB. The WAP Group will defend their Thesis in late February and present the final report, which will be open to the public, in mid-April. More information about the project, group members and project deliverables can be found on the WAP Group’s website,

]]>2013-01-24T19:25:18+00:00Get Your Project International Recognitionhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/get-your-project-international-recognition
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/get-your-project-international-recognition
Are you 13-16 year olds and making a difference to the environment? Enter today for an award that can give you international recognition. You decide the local problem you want to tackle, and then tell us what you have achieved. Working with young people, UNEP, UNESCO, and the World Scouts Organization, the Volvo Adventure has been quietly building for 12 years. They now have a thriving network of young people dedicated to inheriting their solutions rather than our problems. We are now inviting your network to join ours and be part of a window on the world where young people are demonstrating how to make a difference.

Currently we are searching for the next crop of projects to show how young people are dealing with global issues and ensuring they inherit their own solutions, and not just our problems. The aim is to provide a gallery of the best practical projects to be part of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and enable UNEP to have contact with those practical-minded young decision-makers, the movers and shakers of tomorrow.

To take part is easy.. just contact the Quad Manager who will walk you through the registration process.

This is a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to discuss their project with the VA partners and win up to USD $10,000 for their project. Anyone working on a practical environmental project aged between 13 and 16 years of age can enter for the Volvo Adventure. They need to be working in groups of two to five people and actively involved in devising and managing the project. We look forward to showcasing more of the remarkable work of young people from around the world!

]]>2013-01-13T17:43:59+00:00Jan 19th National Service Dayhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/jan-19th-national-service-day
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/jan-19th-national-service-day
January 19th is the National Day of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Everything that Surfrider Foundation accomplishes starts with service to the community and we want to make sure you’re aware of this event. If your club, school or classroom would like to register an event please do so at http://mlkday.gov/serve/register.php. This could be a good opportunity to fulfill your community service project hours by registering an event through this national site.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” Thank you for all you do for your communities, coastlines and Surfrider Foundation!

]]>2013-01-11T18:43:16+00:00Project Grant Opportunitieshttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/project-grant-opportunities
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/project-grant-opportunitiesCaptain Planet Foundation Grants
The Captain Planet Foundation provides grants to school and community groups to support hands-on environmental projects for youth in grades K-12. The objective of the foundation is to encourage innovative programs that empower youth to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. The next deadline for application is February 28, 2013http://captainplanetfoundation.org/apply-for-grants/

Volvo Adventure Awards
In collaboration with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Volvo Adventure Award rewards environmental activities among the decision makers of the future. Environmental projects are undertaken by teams of young people, ages 13-16, to improve their local environment. The deadline for entry is January 31, 2013.http://www.volvoadventure.org/home.aspx

Water Champion Awards
Water Champion awards recognize superior levels of relevance, educational effort, support, and innovation in the promotion of water quality via involvement in World Water Monitoring Day. The deadline for application is January 15, 2013.http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/WaterChampionAwards/

]]>2012-12-10T21:49:42+00:00Become a Rise Above Plastic Speakerhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/become-a-rise-above-plastic-speaker
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/become-a-rise-above-plastic-speaker
If you are a outstanding High School or College Student this is an amazing opportunity. Using a combination of online tools and classroom and beach education, the RAP Program offers training courses for passionate activists to become educated members of the Rise Above Plastics Speaker Group.

]]>2012-09-25T12:20:12+00:00Cool Ideas for Quad Projects in Sept/Octoberhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/cool-ideas-for-quad-projects-in-sept-october
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/cool-ideas-for-quad-projects-in-sept-october
This month is Coastal Cleanup Day and I know most Chapters already participate. Please take note of the data gathering process and try to incorporate that into your regular cleanups if possible. Once you have a few months or more of data you can start to analyze the main culprits and have stats to cite when looking for solutions. Cig butts, foam pieces and plastic bags are often top items but maybe there are lots of straws, caps or other plastic items on the beach or washing up from a specific source that could be targeted. You could tally the results yearly and send a press release out to your local media for increased coverage. Click here for a sample cleanup data card from Chapternet.

In October there are some great youth empowerment seminars in the LA area. Juli from the West LA/Malibu Chapter (j.schulz@surfriderwlam.org) is organizing a RAP Speaker Program with activities and learning sessions on Saturdays in October. It is looking to ‘train the trainer’ and get more people comfortable with giving quality plastic reduction presentations.

Our friends at Algalita are also hosting a one-day youth summit on 10/27 with a similar theme and condensed agenda.

Our friends at Bag It recently got funding to provide their film and curriculum to 200 schools nationwide. It’s open to grades 4-12 and they hope to spur more plastic reductions in schools in the process. If you have kids in those grades or know any teachers that might be interested, check it out here. There’s a contest component with great prizes as an extra incentive to get involved.

]]>2012-09-11T17:24:48+00:00Ocean Armor Exhibithttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/ocean-armor-exhibit
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/ocean-armor-exhibit
We are proud to announce that our Ocean Armor exhibit will debut at the Aquarium of the Pacific located in Long Beach, CA on September 15 and will run until November 15. While marine animals have many natural defenses, they are powerless against man-made threats of pollution, habitat destruction, ocean warming, and over-industrialization. The Surfrider Foundation, in conjunction with Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles, worked with artists to create a collection of life-sized sculptures meant to inspire viewers to preserve the ocean and the creatures that call it home. The message of the collection is: They can’t protect themselves. The collection includes sculptures of a sea otter, bottlenose dolphin, clownfish, and red-crowned crane, each dressed in a suit of armor inspired by different cultures and periods in history.

Start a School Club today and create your OWN Ocean Armor Project and display it at your school/community!

]]>2012-09-11T11:12:34+00:00EcoArt South Florida Project - Torry Islandhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/ecoart-south-florida-project-torry-island
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/ecoart-south-florida-project-torry-island
The project, titled Welcome Home Wildlife!, was a youth EcoArt wildlife habitat project around a lagoon to provide a real life example of what can be done to enhance the island’s friendliness to Okeechobee animal neighbors, and to provide opportunities for the community and visitors to learn about and appreciate the region’s rich flora and fauna up close.

17 Belle Glade youth from Palm Beach County Workforce Alliance used computer labs and classrooms to learn about the history and prospects of the Nature Park, and the importance of specific native trees and plants to encouraging the repopulation of the banks of the lagoon with Okeechobee region native fauna. The Torry Island EcoArt Project was not just about creating and installing the art work itself, it is about intensive education of all involved as well as targeted engagement of specific collaborator professional and scientific skills and knowledge.

One big surprise for the interns was how much time was spent researching on PBSC computers, and learning about biological restoration science, landscape architecture and the roots and current practice of EcoArt. The interns had in depth workshops and presentations on typical flora and fauna of the Okeechobee watershed, exposure to the hundreds of EcoArtists practicing around the world on website review assignments, information (new to most of them) about the history of the Lake and the many human settlements across thousands of years. The interns thus gained greater awareness of the broader context for their work in “making place” for wildlife at Torry Island Nature Park.

EcoArt artist/mentor Jesse Etelson offered a “warning” to the interns on their first day: “You must persist through and overcome physical, mental and emotional challenges.” So, when all the prep classes and computer work got “boring,” Jesse arranged some strenuous hikes in the Torry Island Preserve, and lots of grueling physical work, introductions to “strange” native creatures and the fury of a typical summer thunderstorm with 50 mph winds!!

Based on scientific advice from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the EcoArt demonstration site shows how to mimic the three zones of a typical Everglades tree island. Along the water’s edge, in the water, plants that enjoy and thrive immersed are installed. Above this, in the “transition zone,” trees and shrubs that like moisture but prefer not to be immersed are located. And on the highest ground, typical “hammock” trees and understory plants are located in the areas that get the least water. Interspersed will be the EcoArt wildlife habitat sculptures that are specifically designed to attract particular species. The sculptures are constructed of scavenged natural materials. They thus deteriorate at about the same rate the native trees and plants come to maturity, providing interim habitat while the permanent trees and shrubs grow.

A collaborative effort between EarthEcho International and the NEA Foundation, the
Water Planet Challenge grant program supports student service-learning programs designed
to help improve the health of our water planet.

The Water Planet Challenge Grants are available in the form of NEA Foundation Student
Achievement Grants to middle and high school public educators.

Interested applicants must cite specifically how they are utilizing EarthEcho's Water Planet
Challenge Action Guides in the classroom with their students. From conserving energy
and improving the quality of drinking water to understanding the impact of the Gulf Oil spill,
the Water Planet Challenge's collection of action guides, videos, lesson plans, and service-
learning materials are intended to help educators connect with students and jumpstart
student awareness and involvement in affecting change.

Grants are in the amount of $2,000.

The online application process for this grant is the same as all NEA Foundation $2,000
Student Achievement Grants. Applicants should designate their grant application for
consideration for the Water Planet Challenge Grant program.

]]>2012-08-20T22:02:22+00:00Take Photo: Meet the Moment with CLIF Barhttp://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/take-photo-meet-the-moment-with-clif-bar
http://www.surfrider.org/quad/blog/entry/take-photo-meet-the-moment-with-clif-bar
Watch this great video, then add your own picture of an outdoor moment. Whether you're surfing, running, climbing or just capturing a beautiful pic of of Mother Nature, Clif Bar will donate $5 to Surfrider for every moment added and $1 to Surfrider every time a moment is shared through their site. Help protect the places we play with one of you favorite photos. It's that simple.http://www.meetthemoment.com/about
]]>2012-08-01T17:16:22+00:00